Burner-controlling apparatus



April 22 1924. 1,491,156

R. F. METCALFE BURNER CONTROLLING AP-PARATUS Filed Oct. 2 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 22 1924. r 1,491,156

R F. METCALFE BURNER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2 W22 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A rii 22, 1924. 1,491,156

R. F. METCALFE BURNER CONTROLLING APFARATUS Filed Oct. 2 4 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mu u April 22 1924.

R F. METCALFE BURNER CCNTROLLI NG APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wf -mW Aprifl 22 1924. 4 1,491,156

R F. METCALFE BURNER CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 22, 1924;

UNITED STATESlPATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT F. METCALFE, F ERIE, I'ENNSYLV. ANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 SOCONY BURNER CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A1303,-

ronA'rIonor nnmws'mnn BUnNEn-con'rnomme (APPARATUS.

Application filed October 2, 1922. Serial m seum.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ROBERT F. Mn'rcALFE, a citizen of the United States, residing atburners from some control such as a thermostat. This has heretofore been efiected. It is also desirable toprovide means which will positively stop the burner irrespective of the action of the thermostat provided there is any failure of the burner and it is desirable" in this connection to prevent a re-starting of the burner except through manualloperation so that it may be observed by the operator. In this connection also it is desirable as the feeding mechanism of the burner is stopped to positively close off the fuel feeding passage to effect an immediate. stoppageoffiow. These desirable functions are performed with the apparatus of the present invention. Other features of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows I Fig. '1' shows a central sectional view through the burner.

Fig. 2 a sect on of the burner actuating fandcontrolling mechanism along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 2 -a detail view of the control motor controlling switch.

Fig. 3 an elevation of the burner control safety switch.

Fig. 4 a section on the line 44 in Fig.

Fig. 5 a rear view of the controlling motor and its connections.

Fig. 6 a diagram of the wires.

1 marks the burner chamber. This has a confined nozzle 2, 3 marks the fuel jet, 4 the ranged on a shaft 22. Aneccentric 23 IS on a shaft 9. A passage 10 ,connects the fan with the rear end of the burner, the air pass-' ing by a spider ll-through a space 12 around the ignition cone 13. There is a preliminary combustion of rich mixture at the center of the burner which is enveloped by the air en- 'tering at'12 and a very rapid intense com-V bustion at the issuance of the nozzle 2. These particular features do not form a part of the invention of this application except as they may be. connected with the" features hereinafter described, the same forming thesubject matter of application filed by me Oct. 2, 1922, Serial Number 591,7 69, method and burner for burning, liquid fuel. fan is carried in a frame14 on which the driving motor 15 is mounted, the motor shaft 16 being connected by'a coupling 17 with the shaft 9. The shaft 9 is carried in bearings 18 in a frame extension 19. A worm 20 on the shaft 9 operates in aworm gear 21 arfixed 0n the shaft 22. A strap 24 operates on the eccentric. -A connecting rod 25 ex tends from the strap to the piston 26 of the air pump. The piston operates in a cylinder 27. The cylinder has an inlet valve 28 and a discharge valve 29 and discharges to a receiver 30 arranged over the cylinder. A pipe 31 leads from the fan chamber to the inlet valve 28 so that it retains air from the same source as the fan if desired. The pipe 6 leads from'the receiver 30. A shell 32 is arranged around the burner 1 forming an air space. This air space, however, is in communication with the burner and subected to its variations 1n pressure. An

opening 33 (see dotted lines, Fig. 1 and Figs.

f'sorew 37 which springs the part of the plate supply passage leading to the fuel jet, and 5. Y a the air jet by which the fuel is sprayed and I drawn. to the fuel jet. The air under pres-f sure is conveyed through a pipe 6. Ignition is accomplished by the use of a spark plug 7. Added air for combustion is delivered through the action of a fan 8 which is fixed through which the screw 36 extends. A wire 38 leads to a fitting and consequently to the plate 34. A contact point. 39 is carried by the plate 34 ,and operates incone 105 nection with a contact 40 carried by a plate The v 41 on a post 42, the post 42 being supported f by but insulated from the fitting'35. A wire 43 extendsfrom the post 42. A controllin trolling motor controlling the controllingapparatus hereinafter described the burner motor will be shut down after a fixed interval. If, however, there is a proper ignition the expansion due to temperature in the.

burner creates a decided back pressure which communicated to the plate 34, swings the point 39 out of contact with the point 40 and the contact 39 into contact with the point 45 which position will so operate on the conapparatus as to ermit a continuation 0 theoperation of t e burner motor.

A controlling motor 48 is mounted in a case 48 supported on the frame 14. It drives a series of gears 49 which drive the switch shaft 50. A cam 52 is fixed on the shaft 50. A switch arm 53 is hinged at 54 on a plate 54 supported by but insulated from the frame. This has a riding wheel 55 which rides on the cam 52. A contact point 56 is carried bythe switch arm 53 and is adapted to be brought into contact w1th a point 57 when the cam roller 55 is on a raised portion 58 of the cam 52. The point 57 is carried by a spring arm 60 and a spring 59 operates on the arm 53 and tends to separate the points 56 and 57 when the roller 55 drops the raise 58 of the cam. 'A wire 61 leads from the plate 54" to a plate 62. A wire63 leads from the plate 62 to the motor 15. The spring support 60 is mounted on a conductor plate 64. wire 65 leads from the plate 64 to a plate 66 and a wire 67 leads from the plate 66 to a post 68. The line wire 69 connects the post 68. The other line wire 70 leads to a post 71. A wire 72 leads from the post 71 to a fuse block 73. A wire 74 leads from the fuse block to a plate 75 and a wire 76 leads from the plate 75 to the other side of the motor 15. It will readily be seen, therefore, that when the oints 56 and 57 are open the motor is stoppe When these points are together current is on the motor so as to drive the fan and air pump.

'The wiring can be better understood from an observation of the diagram in Fig. 6 from which. the purpose of the connections on the regular apparatus will be readily apparent. In order to operate the controlling motor so as to control the burner motor there are three points of control. Flrst, the safety switch which I have described which re- If when the burner and consequently takes care of a failure at the burner. A switch operated by a thermostat so as to automatically control the temperature of whatever may be heat-ed by the burner, and a manually controlled switch which must be operated in order to start the apparatus after there has been a failure and a stoppage through the action of the safety switch. The manually operated device is taken care of by a push button switch 77. The thermostat is indicated at 78 and the safety switch has the plate 34 shown diagrammatically and the contacts 39, 40and 44 indicated.

The thermostat operates the thermally movable sensitive element 79 carrying the movable point 80 of the switch. It operates against a point 81 when the thermostat is subjected to cold temperature and this is commonly called the cold side and contacts a. point 82 when the thermostat is subjected to a warmer temperature and this is ordinarily referred to as the warm side.

A series of contact posts 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87 are grouped around the switch shaft 50 and are in position to be wiped and bridged by a bridge 88 which bridge is carried on a stop disc 88 on the shaft. With the bridge over the posts 83 and 84 the controlling apparatus is so set as to continue the operationof the burner motor. When the bridge is over theposts 86 and 87 the apparatus is in position-to stop or open the circuit through the burner motor. Otherwisethis is the normal stopped position. When the bridge is crossing the posts 84 and 85 this will stop I the burner motor and may be. termed the .switch. To start the motor again requires the operation of the push button 77.

The line wire 70 leads to a post 89 from which a wire 90 leads to the control motor 48. The Wir'e69 leads to a post 91 from which a wire 92 leads to a contact post 93 of a magnetic switch, the switch being provided with the usual swinging arm 94 which is connected by a wire 95 with the motor 48. A coil 96 controls the arm 94;

'A transformer 97 is provided, a wire 98 in the low tension side running directly to the post 84 of the control switch. The other side has a wire 99 running to the coil 96, from the coil 96 by a wire 100 to a post 101, from the post 101 by a wire 101 to a con tact plate 102 forming one side of the switch controlled by the ush button 7 7 .A bridge 103 operates on t e plate 102 and aplate 104. A wire 105 leads from the plate 104 to a post 106. A wire 107 extends from the post 106 to a post 108 which is connected with the movable element 79 of the thermostat. A wire 109 leads from the plate 82 at the warm side of the thermostatic switch 43 leads to a post 114. A wire 115 leads from the post 114 to the post 85 of thecontrol switch. A wire 116 also leads from the post 114 to a contact plate 117 adapted to be connected with the bridge plate 103 while the stem of the push button remains in contact with the plate 102 thus bridging the wires 101 and 116. A wire 84 permanently bridges the posts 84 and 87.

In order to lock the switch 93 94 in closed position as the stop disc 88 rotates bringing the bridge plate from one set of contacts to another I provide the following mechanism :The switch arm 94 is provided with an insulated block 94 through which the ,oontact screw 94 extends forming the immediate contact with the point 93. The flexible wire 95 extends from the screw 94". The arm 94 is pivoted at 94 and is provided with a weight 94 which throws the switch open when the circuit through the coil 96 is broken. The arm 94 has a catch extension 94". A catch lever 94 is pivoted at 94 on the frame and carries a catch shoulder 94 which is adapted to swing down back of the extension 94 when the arm 94 is drawn down by the magnetic coil. The lever 94 has a cam extension 94 which is in the path of studs 94 carried by a disc 94*, the disc 94 being mounted on the switch shaft 50. The lugs 94 are so positioned as to lift the lever 94 out of engaging position when the switch plate 88 is in position to bridge the contacts 83-84, or the contacts 8485, or the contacts 8687. At all other positions the lever is released from the pins 94 and drops under the influence of the weight of the lever in position to lock the switch lever in closed position providing it has been brought to closed position, the lever freely permitting the closing movement of the lever 94 to take place at any time.

The operation of the controlling apparatus through these controlling circuits is as follows :-IAs shown the control shaft is stopped with the bridge plate 88, bridging the posts 83 and 84 and this is in the normal running position, in other Words the control, motor is atwhat may be termed the running position. Under theseconditions the thermostatic switch would either be closed on the cold side or be in an intermediate position. As shown it is on the cold'side and the safety switch 34. initially would be swung outwardly under the pressure due to combustion within the burner chamber 1 closing the points 44 and 45. Under theseconditions following the circuit through the magnetic switch coil-96 we find that this circuit is open and consequently the switch. 93-94 open and the controlling motor closed. Tracing this cirquit the wire 99-98 leads to the contact 94, across the bridge 88, post 83, by the wire 110 to the post '110, by the wire 109 to the warm side of the thermostat where we find the points 82 and separted and consequently a break in the circuit. Under these conditions also the contacts 4445 are closed under pressure from the burner and there is a break between the points 39-40 so that there is nothing at the safety switch that will change this condition. If anything, however, should happen to the burner such as failure inignition, or failure in fuel imn'iediately the pressure incident to 'the burning gas in the burner would be relieved and the safety; switch would reverse due to the weight bringing the points 39-40 together. Following the eircuit thus established through the magnetic coil 96 the wire 99-98 leads to the point 84, by the bridge 88 to the point 83, by the wire 110 to the post 110, by the wire 47 through the points 4039, by the switch plate 34, wire 38 tothe post 106, by the wire 105 past the push button switch by way of the point 104, bridge plate 103 and point 107. thence by the wire 104 to the wire 101 to the post 101, thence by the wire 100 to the coil 96. It will be seen, therefore, that the magnetic switch will be immediately .closed and the control ling motor is started advancing the switch plate 88 counter-clockwise. Immediately this starts as before stated the lever 94 being in its lower position the catch lever 94 locks the lever 94 in closed position until the bridge plate 88 bridges the contacts 84.-852 At this point thelock lever 94 is lifted by, the pin 94 and if the other conditions remain the same permits the opening of the controlling switch 9394. That this is so is evident by following the line through the controlling coil 96 of the magnetic switch. The wire 9998 will lead to the post 84. by the bridge 88 to the post 85, by the wire 115 to the post 114, by the wire 43 to the point.

45, the switch 4544 being open. This opening breaking the circuit the magnetic switch is opened and the controlling motor stops with the bridge plate 88 bridging the posts 84 and remains in that position until the apparatus is started by a manual operation of the push button 77. With the push button moved inwardly so as to bring the plate 103 into contact with the point 117 a circuit is established through the coil 96 as follows :By the wire 9998 to the point 84, by the bridge plate 88 to the point 85, by the wire 115 to the post 114, by the wire 116, point 117, bridge plate 103, stem of the push button, plate 102. wire 101, post 101. wire to the coil. The controlsto the thermostat. is at the cold side a circuit will be established through the coil 96.

of the magnetic switch so as to hold this switch in closed position through the influence of the coil and the controlling motor will continue. Following this circuit it will be seen that it will pass from the coil 90 by the Wire 9998, post 84, bridge wire 84", post 87, bridge plate 88, post 86, wire 113 to the post 112, wire 111 to the point '81, across to the point 80 by way of the thermal element 79, terminal mounting of the thermal element 108, wire 10'? to the post 106 by wire 105, and with thepressure on the push button released by way of the plates 104, 103, 102, wire 101, post. 101, wire 100 to the coil.

. If the push button is retained in depressed position then, of course, the bridge plate will remain stationaryon the posts 8687,nntil the release of the push button. If. however. the thermostatic movable element 79 has the switch point 80 away from the cold side. or on the warm side, then the circuit will be broken with the plate 88 on the posts 80-87 and then will remain int he stopped position until the reversal of the thermostatic element. That this is evident will be seen by following the circuit from the controlling coil 90 to the wire 99-98. post 84. bridge wire 84 post 87,'bridge plate 88, post 86,

' wire 113. post 112. wire 111 to the point 51 where there will be a break in the circuit and this break will continue until the point 80 is brought to the cold side and in contactwith the point 81. If. however. the point 8.0 is brought to the warm side so that this circuit is closed and the controlling motor is started by the closing of the circuit just traced the contact between the points 57 is made by the cam 52 with the initial movement away from the posts 8687 and the burner motor is started. The controlling motor has the usual retarding device so that by the time the plate 88 reaches a position to bridge the points 83-84 there will have been a sutlicient, interval for the burner to start. and the expansion due to the burning gases to have acted on the safety switch to close the points 44-45. If due to the failure of ignition a circuit is established through the coil 96 of the magnetic switch by way of the points 39-40 it will continue the operation of the controlling motor to run it over to the safety stop position over the posts tracing the circuits through the coil 96 by way of the wire 99-98 to the post 84, by plate 88, post 83, wire 110, point 40, point 39, safety switch plate 34, wire 38, post 106, wire 105, plates 104, 103, 102, wire 101, post 101, and wire 100 to the coil. Under these conditions the controlling motor switch will remain closed and the plate 88 will be brought forward, the locking lever immediately operating and locking it in position until the plate bridges the contact 8-'185 where the locking lever is released and the circuit through the coil 96 being broken the controlling switch 93-91 controlling the motor is stopped and the points 5750 being open at this position the burner motor is stopped. That this is true will be seen by following the circuit from the coil 96 by way of the wires 99-98, post 84, plate 88. post 85, wire 115, post 114, wire 43. point 45 where there is a break in the circuit between the point 45 and point 44. As before stated That this is so is evident by the parts will remain in this position untit the push button is operated and the circuit again closed and the controlling motor put in motion.

Auxiliary devices are shown in diagram in Fig. 0. A transformer 118 is connected with the line wires 6970 by wires 119 and 120. The low tension side wire 121 leads to ground and a wire 121 to a post 122 where it is connected througlra wire 123 with a circuit breaker 124. Wires 125 lead from the post 122 toa condenser 126. The circuit breaker is connected to the wire 125 and the condenser with a wire 127 by a post 126. A wire 128 leads from the post 126 to a spark coil 129 which is grounded at 130 and connected by a wire 131' with one side 132 of the spark plug 7. The other side 133 is grounded at 134. v

It is desirable to immediately stop the flow of fuel when the burner motor circuit.-

'is broken in order that there may be no leakage to the burner. or any uneonsumed oil delivered to. the burner. This is accomplished automatically in the following mech- .anism: The air pipe 6 leads to and from a chamber 135 having an inlet 136 and outlet 137. A valve 138 closes the passage from the chamber 135 to the outlet by gravity. An armature 139 is mounted on the stem of the valve 138 in position to be actuated by the coil 140. The coil 140 is connected by a wire 141 with the wire 76 and a wire 142 with the wire 6163, in other words. the coil 140 is in a shunt line with the burner motor circuit. l/Vhen the burner motor is shut oft. therefore, the valve 138 drops immediately closing the air passage 6 and thus immediately cutting off any after-flow combustion by bringing the air and gases which are formed from the fuel into more intimate. relation but increases the difference in pressure between that existing when there is a failure of the burner and when there is combustion in the-burner.

What I claim asnew is 1. In a burner controllingapparatus, the

, combination of a burner; aburne-r motor;

a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor, a switch controlling the control motor for a normal operation of the burner; and a safety switch'respons-ive to a burner condition controlling the' control motor with an abnormalcburner condition. v2. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor; a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor; and an automatic; re-setting safety switch responsiye to aburner condition controlling the controlling motor;

3. In a burner controlling apparatus, the

combination of a burner; a burner motor;

a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor; and an automatic re-setting safety switch responsive to burner pressures controlling the controlling motor.'

' 4. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor; a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor; a safety switchresponsive to burner conditions controlling the controlling motor; and a manually controlled re-x starting switch acting/on the controlling motor after a stoppage by the safety switch.

5. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor; a controllin motor controllin motor; a sa ety switch responsive to burner conditions, said safety switch normally closing a normal running circuit; a second-air cuit with an abnormal condition of the burner; and a manually controlled re-starting switch acting in'conjunctionwith said second circuit to startthe controlling motor after a sto page by the safety switch.

6. In a urner controlling apparatus, the

combination of a burner; a burner motor; a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor; a safety switch responsive to burner conditions controlling the controllin motor; and a thermally controlled SWltCh responsive to a temperature controlled by the burner acting on the; control motor. p r

7, In a burner controllin apparatus, the

combination of a burner;'a urner motor; a controlllng motor controlling the burner motor; a safety switch responsive to burner conditions controllingthe controlling motor; a thermally controlled switchresponsive to the burner V a temperature controlled by the burner acting on the control motor; and a manually controlledre-starting switch acting on the control motor after a stoppage by the safety switch.

8. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor; a controlling motor controlling the burner motor; a safety switch responsive to burner conditions, said safety switch normally closing a normal running circuit; a second circuit with an abnormal condition of the burner; a 'manually controlled restarting switch acting in conjuction with said second circuit to start the controlling motor after a stoppage by the safety. switch; and a thermally controlled switch responsive to a temperature controlled by the burner acting on the control motor.

9. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner;' a burner motor; a control motor having a running stop position, an emergency stop position, and a normal stop position, a switch controlling the burner motor' closed by the control motor at the running stop position and open at the emergency and normal stop positions; and a safety switch responsive to burner 'conditions acting on the control motor to prevent its stopping in running stop position whenthere is a failure of the 'burner.

prevent its stopping in running stop posi tion when there is a failure of the burner there being an interval between the normal stop position of the control motor and the running 'stop position for the safety switch to respond to burner conditions as soon as the control motor reaches the running stop position.

-11. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor a;

control motor having a running stop posi tion, an emergency stop posltlon, and a normal stop position; a "switch controlling the burner motor closed by the control motor at the running stop position and open at the emergency and normal stop positions; a

safety switch responsive to burner condi tions acting on the, control motor to prevent its stopping in running stop position when r there is a failureof theburner; anda manually controlled re-starting switch acting on the control'motor after a stoppage in the emergency stop position.'

12. In a burnercontrolling apparatus, the

combination of a burner; a burner motor; a control motor having a running stop position, an emergency stop position, and a normal'stop position; a switch controlling the burner motor closed by the control motor at the running stop position and open at the emergency, and normal stop positions;

combination of a burner; a burner motor; a

control motor having a running stop position, an emergency stop position, and a normal stop position; a switch controlling the burner motor closed by the control motor at the 'running stop position and open at the emergency and normal stop positions; a safety switch responsive to burner conditions acting on the control motor toprevent its stopping in running stop position when there is a failure of the burner; a manually gency stop position; and a thermally controlled switch responsive to a temperature controlled by the burner acting on the control motor to control its movement between.

the normal running stop position and the normal stop position.

14. In a burner controlling apparatus, the combination of a burner; a burner motor; means driven by the motor delivering air to the burner for combustion; fuel feeding means actuated by the burner .motor comprising acontrolling passage; a valve in the passage; an electrically controlled device controlling the valve; a rotating control motor controlling the burner motor; means responsive to burner conditions controllin the control motor, a manually conti'olle switch for restarting the control motor after a stoppage by the switch responsive to burner conditions; and a thermally controlled switch responsive to temperatures controlled by the burner controlling the control motor. v I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y ROBERT F. METCALFE. 

